Bank On Brazil To Upset Argies

Live on ESPN: Sat 01.45: Argentina, on home soil, are 11/10 (Totesport) Copa America favs but Brazil could be the team to back (2/1, bet365).

Home advantage and a strong squad, including of course a certain Lionel Messi, means Argentina are hot favourites at 11/10 with Totesport to win the Copa America for the 15th time. The hosts are bankers at 1/5 (Partybets) to top Group A and they’re just 1/8 courtesy of Betfred to win their opening fixture against a Bolivia team more suited to playing at altitude.

Priced by bet365 at 2/1, Brazil are considered Argentina’s main challengers and potentially more defensively solid than their rivals, they could have the edge especially as the hosts will be under intense pressure on their own patch. Stan James rate Mano Menezes’ troops at 2/5 to run out Group B winners and kicking off their campaign against unfancied Venzuela, Brazil are 4/7 (Sportingbet) to prevail by at least two clear goals.

In Group C, Chile and Uruguay battle for favouritism with both chalked up at 2.5 (6/4) by Betdaq to finish first and that is reflected in the outright market, where the pair are 12/1 apiece at Ladbrokes and respectively. Given their quality in attack, it’s the Uruguayans that should come out on top.

Elsewhere, Paraguay are next in the tournament betting at 18/1 with Coral and should reach the quarters behind Brazil in Group B but the surprise package could be Paddy Power’s 33/1 shots Colombia. With Porto hotshot Falcao leading the line, they certainly provide an attacking threat and they’re an absolute steal at 1/2 (William Hill) in their first match, against an under-strength Costa Rica.